Jar opener



ec. 28,- 1937. c; s RQBINSQN 2,103,554

JAR OPENER Filed June 24, 1936 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE I Patented Dec., 28, 1937 JAR OPENER Cecil S. Robinson, Ithaca, N. Y. Applicationlune 24, 1936, Serial No. 86,952

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for opening glass fruit jars and the like, and has for its general object the provision of a simple and safe mechanism by which the tops can be readily lifted off without danger of cutting the hands.

Other objects are to provide an opener which does not require the use of both hands to adjust it in place, so that it may be more quickly and easily operated, and to provide means to securely hold it in operative position when in use. Further objects are to provide a mechanism which will in a single motion both open the seal and lift off the top, with a minimum of physical effort, so that a child may operate iteasily and without danger; and to make an inexpensive and durable device, and one that will not damage therubber rings. Various other objects will become apparent as the description proceedsa Referring now to the drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure l.is a plan View, partly in section, of one form of the device, shown as a kitchen utensil for handy operation.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure Figure 3 is a plan iew of a similar device arranged to be permanently mounted on the wall, instead of held inthe hand.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the holding band, showing the retaining slot.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the type shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

The device may be made in various forms, either adapted to be held in the hand or fastened to the wall by a suitable bracket, all forms being in general characterized by a powerful and easy toggle-like action of a lifting blade in combination with an encircling retaining band or frame which is rigidly secured to or integral with the handle, bracket, or other supporting means.

In the form illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 4, which is adapted to be held in the hand, the retaining band I, consisting usually of a fiat strip of metal-bent in. a loop, is adapted to fit around the top 2 of the usual glass preserving jar 3, which is ordinarily provided with a rubber sealing ring 4, having one or more rubber tabs 5, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, and shown in cross-section in Figure 2. These tabs 5 are part of the usual rubber sealing ring 4, and are apparently intended to assist in opening the jar 3, though generally ineffective for that purpose. V

I take advantage of these tabs 5 to provide a means for holding the band I in place around the neck of the fruit jar, by providing a slot 6 in the band I, as shown in cross-section in the various figures and more in detail in elevation in Figure 4. This slot 6 is adapted to slip over the tab 5, so that the tab portion of the rubber sealing ring extends through the slot 6 in the band I and holds the band in from slipping off the top of the jar when the device is being used.

The retaining band I is rigidly secured to the handle 1 or other supporting means, so that the band I is definitely supported and maintained in position, and not allowed to drop down so as to require another hand to lift it into place. This rigidity of the band I with the supporting means or handle 5 is important in making an easy handling device. I am aware that some prior devices have used an encircling loop with a toggle actuated prying point, but in such devices the handle has been integral with the blade, not the band, so that the band would fall down unless the parts were held With both hands, making a clumsy device to use and one in which the sharp point or knife was not guarded, by the band. By making the band I rigid with the support or handle 1, the device can be readily fitted into operating position with one hand, and the operating-parts are guarded so that they are not likely to accidentally cut the operator.

The principal operating part consists of a blade l0 pivoted to the band I at the pivot bearings I I, this blade l0 being slightly bent upward at the tip I 2, so as not to cut into the rubber ring 4. The end of the blade H) has a broad sharp edge l4 adapted for insertion between the rubber ring 4 and the glass top 2, as shown in Figure 2. When the handle I is then moved downward as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the toggle action first forces the edge M of the blade I 0 in between the rubber ring 4 and the glass top 2, with a very powerful pressure, even though the force on the handle 1 is relatively light. This wedging action of the sharp edge, I 4, lifts the top or cover 2 slightly and permits air to enter the jar 3 to break the'vacuum which holds the top 2 in place. Further motion of the handle I then causes the blade 2, fulcruming on the edge of the jar 3, to lift the top 2 off, or sufiiciently raise it so that it can be readily lifted off by hand. The operation is found to be quick, simple and effective.

When the device is not in use it is desirable that the sharp blade 2 should not fall down into a position where it is not substantially guarded by the band I. The end I of the blade in is therefore arranged to strike a stop plate l6, as shown in Figure 2, While the blade II] is held in its normal initial operating position by the spring 20.

When there are many jars to be opened, or a permanent installation in a kitchen is desired, the retaining band I instead of being secured to a handle 1 may be secured to a wall bracket 30 as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6. In this form the arm l5 corresponds to the arm I5 of Figure 2, the stop l6 corresponds to the stop l6 of Figure 2, and the spring 20 corresponds to the spring 20 of Figure 2. The arm I5 is preferably somewhat fiexible so as to yield if necessary to let the edge 12' slide past the edge of the top 2, but the arm [5 is sufficiently stiff to cooperate as a stop with the stop 5. The retaining band i is of the same general construction, with the slot 5 to assist in holding it in position. However, the action of the blade I!) is inverted for the reason that whereas in the form of Figure 1 and Figure 2 the jar 3 stands still while the handle 1 moves, the device in Figure 6 stands still and the fruit jar moves.

Therefore in the wall type shown in Figure 5 for example, the blade tip I2 is above the retaining band i. In operation the top of the jar 3 is first passed upward in the retaining ring I, its tab 5 inserted in the slot 6, and the edge of the blade to inserted between the rubber ring and top of the jar, when the blade I0 is in the position indicated by broken lines and the reference numeral ill. The body of the jar then slants inward toward the wall bracket 30, as indicated by the reference numeral 3'.

Then as the hand swings the jar 3 downward and outward to the positions 3 and 3", the edge of the blade l0 wedges in and pries off the top or cover 2 of the jar 3, with an action somewhat similar to that described above in connection with the handle type.

While I have in the foregoing described certain specific examples, it will be understood that they are merely for purposes of illustration, to make clear the principles of the invention, which is not limited tothe particular forms shown, but is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations in different installations, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as stated in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a jar opener, the combination of a supporting means, a retaining band rigidly attached to said supporting means, a pivoted blade adapted to cooperate with said band in a toggle action so as to drive the edge of said blade with a powerful force toward said band, stop means for maintaining the blade substantially in the general direction of the retaining band, so that said band may also serve as a guard, and spring means for holding the blade when free in a position beyond the dead center of its toggle action, to permit the initial engagement of the blade under a jar cover.

2. In a jar opener, the combination of a supporting means, a retaining band rigidly attached to said supporting means, said retaining band having a slot adapted to engage a projecting portion of the sealing ring of a jar, a pivoted blade adapted to cooperate with said band in a toggle action so as to drive the edge of said blade with a powerful force toward said band, stop means for maintaining the blade substantially in the general direction of the retaining band, so that said band may also serve as a guard, and spring means for holding the blade when free in a position beyond the dead center of its toggle action, to permit the initial engagement of the blade under a jar cover.

3. In a jar opener, the combination of a supporting means, a retaining band rigidly attached to said supporting means, a pivoted blade adapted to cooperate with said band in a toggle action so as to drive the edge of said blade with a powerful force toward said band, stop means for maintaining the blade substantially in the general direction of the retaining band, so that said band may also serve as a guard, and spring means for holding the blade when free in a position beyond the dead center of its toggle action, to permit the initial engagement of the blade under "a jar cover, the tip of the blade being bent so that it will slide freely over a sealing ring of a jar without cutting when the blade is inserted.

CECIL S. ROBINSON. 

